Moving-picture screen.



P. E. THOMASON.

MOVING PICTURE sommi.

APPLICATION ILIJ),JAH.25I 1912.

1,059,236. l l Patented Apr.15,: 1913.

@UIR Mmmm PHQTURES e] i I .RRE /A Tm@ BESTEN www WITNESSES WENTR 79?#771QMH5 Off,

AIToMErs PAUL EDGAR THOMASON. OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

MOVING-PICTURE SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

Application led January 25, 1912. Seria1No. 673,285.

To all whom t may concern lBe it known that I, PAUL EDGAR THOM- l' AsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Moving-Picture Screens, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in moving picture screens, and has for its` object the provision of a-screen of the character specified which may be operated to present a plain White surface for receiving the display of the pictures, or which may be operated to present a display of advertisements or the like when the pictures are not being displayed.

In the drawings -F igure 1 is a front View of the improvement with the screen in place; Fig. 2 is a side View; and Fig, 3 is a front View with the screen out of place.

In the embodiment of the invention the curtain is in the` form of an endless belt 1, supported by an upper roller 2, and a lower roller 3. The roller 2 is provided with journal pins .4 journaled in bearings 5 in brackets 6 on the ceiling 7 or other suitable place. rlhe lower roller 3 has journal pins 8 and 9, journaled in brackets 1() and 11 respectively on the iioor 123' or other suitable place. A Worm gear Wheel 12 is secured to pin 9 and a Worm 13 on a Worm shaft lll'is in engagement with the wheel 12. The Worm shaft is journaled in bearings 15 on the bracket 11 before mentioned. The Worm shaft 14 is in alinement with the shaft 16 of Va suitable motor 17 electric motor in the present instance, anda suitable clutch 18 is provided for connecting the shafts. A suitable switch (not shown), is arranged in 1 the operating booth near the operator for starting the motor and leads 19 lead from the motor to the switch.

The belt l is provided with a plain portion 20, and with a portion 21 for receiving advertisements or the like, and When thev pictures are not being shown, the portion 21 is placed in position in front of the audience. When the pictures are being shown,

l the plain portion 20 is in front of the au- I dience. The operator can bring either portion into View by starting the motor and I turning the lower roller. When the belt i Winds far enough the motor is stopped until the belt is to be again changed.

I I claim z- I A device of the character specified, comprising an endless belt having on the outer face thereofv adisplay portion and a plain i port-ion of approximately the same size, up-

per and lowerlsupporting rollers for the belt, a Worm gear Wheel secured to one end of one roller, a motor having a Worm' shaft provided with a Worm meshing with the Worm Wheel, and means for controlling the motor from a distance. f

PAUL EDGAR THOMASON. Witnesses NORMAN A. COOKE, HUnsoN CJMILLAR. 

